Cape Cod Theatre Company Rings In The Holidays With “A Christmas Carol”

HARWICH – Ghosts, music and a journey through time are coming to the Cape Cod Theatre Company this holiday season in the iconic family favorite “A Christmas Carol.” Travel with the greedy Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns the value of generosity and forgiveness in Eric Hill’s adaptation of this classic tale. 

 “This play is a quite incredible replica of the original story. It’s a really excellent script that uses Dickens’ words oftentimes, and it’s really for the whole family,” shared director Jane Staab. “There have been many depictions of the Christmas Carol, and this one, in my mind, is the most authentic.”

 Opening with a scene of Charles Dickens himself being cajoled into telling the tale of the belligerent Ebenezer Scrooge and diverging into a theatrical recreation of the beloved tale, this production offers a fresh take on a well-known classic, with what Staab describes as “a dramatic, semi-comic depiction of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption.”

 Director Jane Staab has assembled a large cast of over 30, ranging from first-time youth actors to seasoned professional talent. “A lot of them are children, and it’s such a pleasure to watch them grow in a part and see how much they enjoy it,” shared Staab, who estimates that about a third of the cast is under 18. 

 Among the cast is the father-son duo Neil and Aidan Gustafson, portraying Ebenezer Scrooge and Young Ebenezer. 

 With a single changing set, Staab expects the visuals on the stage to be particularly enthralling, with special effects and sound design bound to entrance audiences as the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future haunt the stage with their spooky and foreboding presence. As Staab sees it, “the special effects add a great deal to it alongside the realness of the human characters in the play.”

 The costumes, much like the rest of the production, will transport the audience through time and space, completely immersing them in the wonders of holiday magic and nostalgia. As the Cratchit family struggles in the cold, or as Fezziwig’s guests waltz about in celebration, the visuals of this production will not disappoint. 

 The choreography in the scene of celebration at Fezziwig’s fete have been designed by the talented Laurel Conrad, who is sure to have orchestrated a fun and exuberant routine. Paired with caroling and theatrical narration by the ensemble – or as Staab calls them, the balladiers – this play will portray the mix of longing, grief, hope, humor and festive holiday spirit that A Christmas Carol is known for. 

 As all of these components come together, the production aims to create what Staab describes as “a wonderful cross between dramatic realism and magical fanaticism.” 

 The spirit of this play, and of the holiday season, is ever-present in the production, and it reaches beyond just those who celebrate Christmas. Staab shares “Every rehearsal, just like the show, is full of joy and the Christmas spirit. It doesn’t have to be one religion, or one way of thinking, it’s a way of learning about humanity.” 

 The play offers an opportunity for audiences to observe Scrooge’s journey of self-discovery and growth, while also reflecting on their own lives, inspiring love, gratitude and generosity beyond the stage, just in time for the holidays. 

 The show will run from Dec. 5 to Dec. 29 with a pay-what-you-can night on Dec.7, an ASL-interpreted performance on Dec. 15, and a sensory-friendly performance on Dec. 21. For more dates, information and to buy tickets, visit capecodtheatrecompany.org.